Improvement in elastic transfer printing



birdied States autism (tithe.

DAVID W. BOWDOIN, OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS.

Letters Patent No. 105,300, dated July 12, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT m ELABTIC TRANSFER PRINTING-- The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern,-

of any composition in ordinary type, or other raised and depressed surfaces, and by which these impressions may-be transferred to any other surface or object of regular or varying form or outline, with ease and facility, the lines of which represent with absolute-fidelity the original from which it is made.

To accomplishthis result I make use of an elastic composition of such density that the surface will yield to the impression made by the type just enough to reproduce the inked or sized surface, and accommodate itself to the rigidity of the type.

I make this tlanslbr-surfacc either of vulcanized rubber, or the composition of glue and molasses, such as is used in making printers .rollers. This composition I prefer to use in most cascs,us, being best adapted to the purpose. This composition is well known, and I do not consider a detailed account of its manufacture necessary in this description.

- The composition being nielted it is cast in plates of any desired thickness or size, the smooth surlaoe being obtained by forming one or both sides of the mold of a sheet of plate-glass, by which a-perfectly even and true surface is produced, the thickness being perfectly nnit'orrm Any other material capable of producing an equally smooth surface may be used in place of the plate-glass. v The plate of elastic material,

beingfirmly cemented too; rigid backing or plate, is immediately ready for use.

The composition may be cast in the form of a roller, when it is desired to use it in a press requiring a Surface of that form, or any form may he used which is required to produce any desired result.

For producing or transferringlarge surfaces, acurved plate may be used; for irregular surfaces, the block must be cast so as to conform to their varying outlines.

I do not propose to describe any particular form of machine or press in which this surface may be used,

,as it is obvious that many'snch machines may be devised which will facilitate the operation of tmnsfcrring and printing.

In making use of this transfer-surfilce, the engraving or type to be transferred is first to be inked or sized in the usual way,.and pressed directly upon the elastic surface. If required, the impression thus ob tained may be again transferred to another similar surfircc. Tile object to be printed is then rolled over 'or pressed upon the surface, or printed in anysnitable manner by means of machines or presses which may be devised for this purpose.

Suitable sizing being used, the resulting impression may be ornamented by bronze or colored powders, in many w. ys well known to those skilled in the art.

I do not claim any composition of matter for this purpose, as I am aware that such combination of materials for making elastic compounds is the. subjeetof various patents.

' Having thus fully described the nature of my invention,

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. An elastic yielding transfer-surface or'pl'ate composed of the materials specified, or their equivalents, prepared as set forth, and used in the manner and for the purpose substantially as specified. I

2. Forming a. transfer-surface of an elastic yielding material, to be used for printing and decorating objects of regular or irregular outline.

3. The method of printing and transferring, by means of an elastic tmnsferrsurfacc, substantially as set forth.

DAVID W. BOWDOIN.

Witnesses:

GEO. A. FISHER, D. F. UALLAHAN. 

